Matthew 28:1 - The Time of the Tomb-visit(s)

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Jan 30 06 8:47 PM

Q: Matthew 28:1 says that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb as it began to dawn. Mark 16:1-2 says that Mary Magdalene, Mary-of-James, and Salome came very early in the morning at the rising of the sun. However, John 20:1 says that Mary Magdalene came early, when it was yet dark to the sepulchre. Isnt this a contradiction?

A: No; John 20 contains supplemental information which informs the reader about a visit to the tomb which Mary Magdalene made before most of the other women arrived. The initial visit which John describes in John 20:1 occurred before Salome, Joanna, and at least one other woman arrived at the tomb.

There seems to be a serious problem for such a theory, at least a gross improbability.

Let us assume that indeed Mary Magdalene did come for an early visit to the tomb before any of the other women. From what the of Gospels tell us, then, Mary M. returned to the tomb with the other women, such as Mary, Salome, and the like. But there is an odd problem. In Mark 16:1 and Luke 24:1 it says the women brought spices to anoint the body. These women include Mary M. But did not Mary tell them that the body was not there? If there was no body, then there is no reason to bring spices to anoint a non-body. Did Mary not tell them, carried spices in hope that the body would magicly return? Or, is it the case that John has a different story, that in the Synoptic Gospels the women all came together unknowing (no matter which in particular beyond Mary M.) and were suprised to find no body; instead, John has a different account all together which does not make sense in view of the others.

It seems too improbable that Mary M. would return to the tomb with spices to anoint the body that she already knew was not there. And the other Gospels make it clear that Mary M. did come with the other women (Mark 16:2, Matthew 28:1). Such the position that Mary made two trips then seems falsified.